High-frequency vibrator mechanism



.im 14, 1949. n.1. Ausf 2,413,353-

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.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mon-FREQUENCY vmaA'roa MEcnANrsM Robert J. Aust, Indianapolis, Ind., assigner to P. R. Mallory & Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Delaware 1 Application July 3, 1944, Serial No. 543,255

The present invention relates to vibrators, and, more particularly to vibratory interrupters of novel andimproved character.

It is an object of the present invention tov provide a vibratory interrupter of novel character in which a vibratory armature is simultaneously subjected to the joint eiiect of a constant and of an alternating magnetic field to produce vibrations thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel vibratory interrupter organization in which an armature is mounted for vibration in a constant magnetic eld and is alternately magnetized in opposite directions under the control of a system of contacts whereby the armature will be maintained in vibration.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a vibratory interrupter of the polarized type in which a constant magnetic field is set up by means of permanent magnets and an armature in said field is subjected to the effect of electromagnetic means alternately inducing magnetic poles of opposite polarity at the ends thereof to effect continuous vibratory motion of the armature.

It is also within the contemplation of. the invention to provide a novel circuit organization for a polarized vibratory interrupter including a constant polarizing field, a vibratory armature and a driver coil whereby current will be alternately passed in opposite directions through the driver coil and the two halves of the primary winding of a transformer for maintaining the armature in vibration and to induce an alternating voltage in the secondary winding of said transformer.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a side elevational view of a vibrator embodying the principles of the present invention and employing a pair of permanent 'l magnets;

Fig. 2 depicts a preferred form of circuit organization of the vibrator illustrated ln Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of the invention likewise4 employing a pair of permanent magnets;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of the vibrator shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 illustrates another modified embodiment of the inventionin side elevation employing electromagnetic means for producing a constant magnetic field;

than the stack screws to Fig. 6`depicts the circuit diagram of the vibrator of Fig. 5;-

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a further modification of the invention in whlcha 'pair of polarizing coils and a driver coil are employed; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view of another modified embodiment of the principles of the invention into a vibratory interrupter.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, it is contemplated that considerablevvariation may be made in the method of procedure and the construction of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the following description, and in the claims, parts will be identied by specific names, for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, reference characters III and II denote a pair of ferromagnetic frame plat, clamped at one end thereof and respectively carrying permanent magnets I2 and I3 at the other' end thereof, setting up a constant magnetic iield in gap Il therebetween. Between plates III and II is held a driver coil I5, the winding space of which is defined by means of a ferromagnetic flange I6 and a non-magnetic or insulative flange Il held together by means of a cylindrical sleeve I8, the ends of which are crimped around a corresponding opening in each flange. Flanges IB and I1 are slightly larger in diameter than the distance between frame plates III and II and are provided with notches through which the said plates may extend and may securely hold the driver coil in its proper position. It will be also noted that ferromagnetic flange I6 constitutes a shortened magnetic path between the corresponding portions of the frame plates so that an eilicient magnetic circuit is provided and a strong magnetic ileld of the indicated polarity is set up in air gap I4.

Progressing from frame plate IIl, the stack comprises an insulative spacer I9, a pair of side springs 20, insulative spacer 2|, a pair ofmetal spacers 22 between which there is clamped one end of a reed or hinge plate 23, an insulative spacer 24, a pair of side springs 25, an insulative spacer 26, and frame plate Il. The stack is held together by means of stack screws 21 and nuts 28, said screws extending through aligned holes in the clamped elements. In accordance with usual practice, these holes are larger in diameter accommodate insulative metallic elements from each other and from the frame plates.

The vibratory system is carried by hinge plate 23, to the free end of which there are secured an armature plate 29, and reed arms 30 and 3I by means of rivets 32, there being a spacer plate 33 inserted between hinge plate 23 and reed arm Il. As it will be observed in Fig. 1, the riveted end of armature plate 29 is slightly offset with respect to the other end thereof in order to obtain proper positioning of the amature in the magnetic field, the free end of the armature extending through the center hole of driver coil I into air gap I4. Reed arms 30 and 3| carry vibratory interrupter contacts 34 and rectifier contacts 35. The vibratory interrupter contacts 34 cooperate with relatively fixed interrupter vcontacts 36 and 31, and the vibratory rectifier contacts 35 are cooperating with relatively fixed rectifier contacts 38 and 39, carried by side springs 20 and 25.

' The circuit organization of the vibrator of the invention will be best understood from Fig. 2 in which similar reference characters have been used to denote corresponding parts. It will be noted that the ends of driver coil I5 are connected to fixed interrupter contacts 36 and 31, respectively, and also to the ends of primary winding 40 of step-up transformer 4I. A source of low voltage direct current 42 has its negative terminal grounded and connected to the vibratory system and its other terminal connected to the center tapof the primary winding. The ends of secondary winding 43 are respectively connected to fixed rectifier contacts 38 and 39, and the rectified output voltage is developed between the center tap of said secondary'winding and ground. A buffer condenser 44 is connected across the secondary winding and a filter condenser 45 and a resistor 4B are connected between the centertap of the secondary and ground. in a manner well understood.

4 induced in the armature, because current will flow from the positive terminal of the source through the upper half of the primary, driver coil I5, contacts 31-34, armature 29, and back to the negative terminal of the source. At the same time current of greater intensity vwill also flow from the positive terminal of the source, through the lower half of the primary, closed contacts 31--34, armature 29 and back tothe negative terminal of the source, and the impulse induced in the other half of the primary will be added to the driver current, as before. The armature will be imparted such polarity as to be repelled by the pole I3 it is moving towards andvto be attracted by the opposite pole, I2. During its travel towards I2, the armature will close contacts 34--36 and the cycle will begin anew.

Obviously, the driver coil will be alternately energized in opposite directions thereby maintaining the armature in continuous vibration so long as energy is supplied to the system. The primary winding of transformer 4I will be likewise alternately energized in opposite directions whereby a high alternating voltage will be induced in secondary winding 43. This alternating voltage is rectified by the conventional cooperation of the fixed rectifier contacts .38 and 39 with the corresponding vibratory contacts and the rectied high voltage may be withdrawn between the center tap of the secondary winding and ground. The driver coil inductance limits the coil current from changing instantaneously as the contacts close, so that the maximum "pull" or attraction occurs as the armature is moving towards the attracting poles. This action then provides a balanced armature attracting force in each direction of armature motion,lmaking possible symmetrical waveforms regardless of the exact type of contact mounting compliance mechanism used. It also makes possible high driving forces for the armature without increasing the coil energy required, as compared to conventional shunt, or driver coil type driving syspermanent magnets I2 and I3 are set andr of sulcient attractive force rto bias the armature, causing one set of interrupter contacts. for example 34 and 36, to be closed..

At starting current will flow from the positive` terminal of the source. through lower half of primary winding 4I. driver coil I5,`closed contacts 34-36, and armature 29, back to the negative termlnal'of the source. At the same time current of considerably greater intensity will also start to flow from the positive terminal of the source. through the upper half of the primary winding, contacts Sii- 34. and armature 29. back to the other terminal of the source. Upon starting. this current will induce a current pulse of oppostie direction in the other, lower. half of the primary and this pulse will be added to the current from the source flowing through the driver coil. This produces a flux in the armature of a polarity tov repel the permanent magnet pole to which it.

wasstatically attracted and cause an attraction n of the armature to the opposite permanent magnet pole I3. Consequently. the armature will move towards the attracting pole. As soon as the armature moves over. the other pair of interrupter contacts 34-3'1 are closed. This retcms. Thus vibrators of the described characters have been successfully built and operated with a coil loss of only 0.2 watt at operating frequencies of about 400 cycles per second.

It isA also to be observed that the magnetic circuit of the vibrator is very efficient and is formed with a minimum of air gaps. The magnetic circuit used is effective in providing the necessary magnetic bias to attract the armature and to close one set of interrupter contacts over the full range of interrupter contact spacing changes normally encountered during the useful life of the unit. The principles of the invention are especially adaptable to the construction of highefrequency vibrators of very small dimensions. Thus, a. practical unit of this type had an overall length of about one and one-half inches and a maximum diameter of about one inch and was successfully operated for long periods at about 400 cycles per second with good operational characteristics and low driving power.

In view of the polarized character of the unit, it is necessary to polarize the' coll and the magnets with respect to the polarity of the source ofv verses the con polarity, or the polarity of flux 2l mountingsof this character are disclosed in U. S.

, Patent 2,049,310 to Nulsen et al., dated July 28, 1936, to which hereby reference is made.

The modled embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 and its circuit organization shown in Fig. 4 are in most respects similar to the one described in the foregoing and similar reference characters have been used to denote corresponding parts. Therefore, it will not be necessary to repeat the corresponding parts of the description. It will be sufficient to state that in this embodiment the constant magnetic field is provided by two horseshoe or U-shaped permanent magnets 52 and 53, respectively mounted in corresponding slots of ferromagnetic frame plates and 5| by means of screws or rivets 54. Permanent magnets 52 and 53 are so arranged as to have their poles of opposite polarity facing each other, dening a pair of magnetic gaps I4 and |4a in which a strong magnetic ield is set up; Driver coil I5 is provided on a spool constituted of two apertured flanges I6 and I1 and a sleeve I8 and is held between the two permanent magnets 52 and 53. Both flanges I6 and I1 are constituted of an insulating material, in contrast to the embodiment of Fig. 1, in which ilange I6 is of a ferromagnetic character. Armature 29 through gap |4a and sleeve I8, into gapv I4.

extends This modified embodiment has the advantage of greater magnetic efilciency, since in the attracted armature positions closed magnetic circuits are provided for both the driver coil and the permanent magnets a'nd produce pull from each pair of poles, each side. Also, this arrangement provides the most efficient magnetic circuit and therefore the smallest size for any given deecting forces on the armature. In view of the similarity of construction and of the circuit organization, the operation of this embodiment will be readily understood from'tha-t of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The incorporation of permanent magnets into the vibrator structure, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, introduces certain inconvenience and manufacturing diiiculties. Thus, permanent magnets of the described character are relatively expensive and being generally constituted of magnetic alloys of very great hardness introduce problems into the manufacturing process. Moreover, vibrators i of this type are permanently polarized and this has to be carefully considered when connecting them into a circuit. Although none of these problems is serious enough to interfere with the .practical value of the described structures, in some cases it is advantageous to dispense with the permanent magnets and to employ electromagnetic means for setting upa constant polarizing ileld for the armature. A vibrator of this type is illustrated in Fig. 5.

This modified vibrator organization essentially comprises a pair of ferromagnetic frame plates and 6| having. one of their ends clamped in a stack and having their free ends extending away from the stacky in parallel-spaced position. Between said plates is held a driver coil 82 having an axial hole 63 therein, through which armature 64 may extend. The polarizing eld is produced by means of a polarizing coil 65 having a core 86 and a pair of L-shaped pole pieces 61 and 68 likewise held between the frame plate 60 and 5I The ends of pole pieces 61 and 68 extend towards each other and define a magnetic gap in which a strong magnetic iield may be set up upon the polarizing coil being energized.

The stack comprises upper frame plate 60,'insulative spacer 10, side spring 1|. insulative spacers 12, metal spacers 13 between which there is clamped one end of hinge plate 14, insulative spacers 15, side spring 16, insulative spacer 11, and lower frame plate 6I. Clamping of the stack is effected in the conventional manner by means of. stack screws 18 and nuts 19, said screws extending through aligned holes of the several elements.

The vibratory structure comprises two reed or contact arms 80 and 8| and the armature 64 secured to the free end of hinge plate 14, with the interposition of two spacer plates 82 and 83, by meansof rivets 84. Vibratory contacts 85 and 86 are mounted'at the ends of reed arms 80 and 8|, respectively, and are adapted to cooperate with relatively xed contacts 81 and 88, respectively mounted at the ends of side springs 1| and 16.

As it will appear from the circuit diagram of *his vibrator shown in Fig. 6, polarizing coil 65 is directly connected across source of low voltage current 90. The driver coil 62 has its ends connected to stationary contacts 81 and 88 and also to the ends of primary winding 9| of transformer 92. Source 90 has its terminals connected to armature 64 and to the center tap of the primary winding. During operation of the structure, an alternating voltage is induced in secondary winding 93 and may be utilized directly, or after rectication.

The operation of this modified embodiment of the invention is substantially the same as that of the foregoing embodiments. It is to be observed at the outset that the contacts are adjusted for normal spacing so that when the polarizing coil is not energized, both interrupter contacts are openiFig. 5). On starting, polarizing coil 65 is energized and the system will be biased so as to close one set of contacts, for example, 85 and 81 (Fig. 6). Current of such direction will now be passed through driver coil 62 as to induce a magnetic polarity in the armature causing deection thereof in the contact-breaking direction until the other set of contacts, 86 and 88, will be closed, reversing the direction of current ow through the driver coil, etc. Clearly, the armature will be maintained in continuous vibration and current will be passed in alternate directions through the two halves of the primary winding, inducing alternating voltage in the secondary winding, which may be rectified, if desired, by means of a rectifier tube, or by means of a set of synchronous rectier contacts operated by the armature.

It will be noted that this modied embodiment is dynamically the equivalent of the structure of Fig. 1, the permanent magnets being replaced by an electromagnet. While the polarizing coil represents an additional load on the source, this load may be held within low limits and does not sub- Ftantially affect the overall efficiency of the viirato'r. The advantage of this embodiment is that itis normally non-polarized, that is for an interr'upter unit properly connected, it will operate from either battery polarity without reversing the coil connections. It also has the same type of impact starting as is obtained with a shunt type vibrator.

The most advantageous magnetic system in a vibrator of this type is obtained by means of two polarizing coils, as this is illustrated by way of example in Fig. 7. This vibrator comprises a pair of frame plates |00 and I 0| clamped in a stack at one end thereof and carrying a pair of U- shaped ferromagnetic members, |02 and |03, at the other end thereof. The ends of members |02 and |03 are extending -towards each other and define a pair of air gaps |04 and |05. A driver coil |06 is mounted between members |02 and |03 and has an axial hole |01 therein substantially in alignment with gaps |04 and |05. Polarizing coils |08 and |09 vare mounted around on'e extension of members |02 and |03, said coils being connected in parallel or in series with each other and are directly energized from the source so as to set'up poles of opposite magnetic polarity in both air gaps.

The stack comprises frame plate |00, two insulative spacers H0, side spring insulative spacers ||2, metal spacers ||3 between which there is clamped one end of hinge plate ||4, insulative spacers H5, side spring H6, insulative spacers I|'|, and lower frame Aplate |0|. The stack is held together in the conventional manner by means of stack screws ||8 and nuts l I9.

The Vibratory system includes a pair of reed arms and |2|, carrying Vibratory contacts |22 and |23, respectively, at the ends thereof. These reed arms are riveted with the interposition of suitable spacers to the ends of hinge plate ||4 and armature plate |24. Vibratory contacts |22 and |23 respectively cooperate with relatively fixed contacts |25 and |26 mounted at the ends of spring arms and HG. Armature |24 extends through air gap |03 and driver coil |01 into air gap |04.

This vibrator is to a substantial extent similar to the one shown in Fig. 3 with the dierence that the two permanent magnets 52 and 53 of the previous embodiment are replaced by U-shaped ferromagnetic members |02 and |03 and polarizing coils |08 and |09. Therefore, the operation of this modified embodiment of the invention should be obvious to those skilled in the art.

A further vibrator organization whereby symmetrica] armature actuating forces may be obtained in each half-cycle is depicted in Fig. 8. This vibrator includes a generally U-shaped ferromagnetic frame |20 having a stack clamped between its legs and a driver coil |2| mounted in its bight by means of an iron core |22 ending inV a pole piece |23. The stack comprises the upper portion of frame |20, insulative spacer |24, side spring |25, insulative spacers |28, hinge plate |21, insulative spacers |28, side spring |29, insulative spacer |30, andthe lower portion of frame 20.

The stack is held together by means of conventional stack screws |3| and nuts |32.

The Vibratory system includes la pair of reed arms |33 and |34 carrying Vibratory contacts |35 and |36, respectively, at the ends thereof, and armature plate |31,'the reed arms and the armature being secured to the free end of hinge plate |21 by means of rivets |38. Vibratory contacts and |36 respectively cooperate with relatively fixed contacts |38 and springs |25' and |28. Two small permanent magnets |4| and |42 are mounted on frame |20 so as to have their poles of opposite polarity defining a magnetic gap through which the armature extends in proximity to pole piece |23 of driver coil |2|. As in the previous embodiments of the invention, the 4driver coilis connected across the primary winding 'of the transformer to which the stationary contacts are likewise connected. Thedirections and will induce magnetic poles in the |40 mounted on side terminal region of the armature in accordance with the direction of the driver current so that Vibratory movement of the armature will follow in the same way as in the previous embodiments.

This arrangement has the advantage of allowing a more conventional form of structure although it has a somewhat greater overall length than the arrangements disclosed in the foregoing.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in connection with a few preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the present invention. In accordance with these principles an alternating current sets up an alternating flux in an armature which is operating in a constant magnetic field so that during each half-cycle the armature is repelled from the pole it is moving from and is attracted by the pole it is moving towards, thus providing symmetrical armature driving force in each direction of armature travel. All of these variations and modifications are considered to be within the'true spirit and scope of the present invention as disclosed in the foregoing description and defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A Vibratory interrupter comprising in combination means including a pair of permanent magnets facing each other in cooperative magnetic relationship for establishing a constant magnetic field in a pair of aligned gaps, a ferromagnetic member mounted for vibration extending ,through said gaps, electromagnetic means selectively coupled to a source of current and adapted when energized to magnetize said member and to cause deflection thereof in said field, and a system of contacts operable by deflection of said member alternately to energize said electromagnetic means in opposite directions thereby to maintain said member in'vlbration.

2. A Vibratory interrupter comprising in combination mean-s including a pair of permanent magnets having'their poles spacedly facing each other to define a pair of aligned gaps with oppositely directed constant magnetic nelds, a ferrolmagnetic Vibratory member extending through the first and into the other of said gaps, windings of wire spacedly surrounding the portion of said member between said gaps and adapted when energized to magnetize said member and to cause deflection thereof in said magnetic fields, and contact means selectively coupled to a source of current and operable by deflection of said member to alternately pass current through said windings in opposite directions thereby to produce vibrations of said member.

3. A Vibratory interrupter comprising in combination a stack, a pair of frame plates spacedly clamped in said stack, a substantially U-shaped permanent 'magnet mounted at the end of each of said plates to'have their poles of opposite polarity facing each other defining a pair of aligned magnetic gaps, a hinge plate clamped in said stack at one end thereof and bearing an elongated ferromagnetio armature at the other end thereof extending through one of said gaps into thev other, a'driver coil surrounding the portion of said armature between said gaps and having an axial opening through which the armature may extend, a set of Vibratory contacts on said armature selectively coupled to a source of current, and stack-clamped relatively fixed intervrupter and rectifier contacts cooperating with said Vibratory contacts adapted to control a low- 'bination a stack, a pair of frame plates clamped in said stack in parallel-spaced position, a pair of U-shaped permanent magnets mounted between said plates to have poles of opposite polarity facing each other defining a pair of magnetic gaps, a driver coil held between said magnets and having an axial opening therein aligned with said gaps, a ferromagnetic armature mounted for vibration in said stack and extending through said gaps and through the opening in said coil, a set of vibratory `contacts on said armature, stationary interrupterand rectifier contacts cooperating with said vibratory contacts, one of said interrupter contacts being normally closed, stackclamped springs for supporting said stationary contacts, connections between said coil, said interrupter contacts, a source of current and the primary winding of a transformerto alternately pass current of opposite direction through'said coil and winding, and connections between the secondary winding of said transformer and the said rectifier contacts to rectify the alternating voltage induced in the said secondary winding.

5. A vibratory interrupter comprising, in combination, means including a pair of permanent magnets facing each other in additive magnetic relationship for defining a pair of aligned gapsand establishing a constant magnetic field therein, a vibratory reed having a paramagnetic portion extending through said gaps, a driver coil selectively coupled to a source of current and adapted to magnetize said Daramagnetic p'ortion to cause deflection thereof in said field,and a system of contacts on said reed operable .b'y deilection of said paramagnetic portion to alternately energize said driver coil with currents of opposite polarities thereby to'maintain said reed in vibration. l

6. A vibratory interrupter comprising, in combination, means including a pai of permanent magnets facing each other in additivemagnetic relationship for denning a pair of aligned gaps and establishing a constant magnetic field therein, a vibratory reed having a paramagnetic portion extending through said gaps, a driver coil selectively coupled to a source of current and mounted between said gaps andhaving an axial passage therein for receiving said paramagnetic portion, whereby energization of the driver coil causes deflection of theparamagnetic portion in said field, and a system of contacts on said reed operable by deflection of said paramagnetic portion to alternatelyA energize said driver coil with currents of opposite polarities thereby to mainin said stack and extending through said gaps REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 4 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date 1,298,727 Jackson 2. Apr. 1, 1919 2,265,224 Burton Dec. 9, 1941 2,415,691 Huetton ;V Feb. 11, 1947 2,433,739 Collins et it1.,.. Dec. 30, 1947 2,433,740 Collins et al. Dec. 30, 1947 

